In a jaw-dropping World Cup shake-up, Tunisia has appointed Hervé Renard as head coach just one day after sacking Sabri Lamouchi, following a humiliating 5-1 defeat to Sweden that exposed a fractured squad and a dressing room rift.
The managerial swap marks the first time in tournament history a coach has been fired after just a single game, but the Tunisian Football Federation didn’t panic—they called in African football’s ultimate fixer. Renard, a two-time AFCON winner who led Zambia and Ivory Coast to continental glory and famously masterminded Saudi Arabia’s shock upset over Argentina at Qatar 2022, brings his renowned tactical acumen and rescue expertise to his fifth African national team.
Already at the training camp with a contract through the 2026 World Cup and potential for extension based on results, the 57-year-old Frenchman now faces a monumental test: reviving locker room morale and scraping together results against a disciplined Japan and powerhouse Netherlands. Can the man in the iconic white shirt work his magic once more, or is Tunisia’s World Cup hill simply too steep to climb?
The new head coach is now with the squad and will take charge of the team for their second group game against Japan on June 21.